Winthrop Climbs in U.S. News Rankings for Southern Public Universities

Quick Facts

This year, Winthrop placed seventh in the rankings among fellow Southern public institutions that grant bachelor and master’s degrees and tied for 21st among public and private universities. This is the 20th time the Rock Hill campus has received a mention in the prestigious newsmagazine, whose rankings include more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools nationwide.

Anthony DiGiorgio

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Winthrop University moved up in the rankings of the South’s top 10 public universities that convey master’s degrees in the 2012 U.S. News & World Report’s edition of “America’s Best Colleges.” This year, Winthrop placed seventh in the rankings among fellow Southern public institutions that grant bachelor and master’s degrees and tied for 21st among public and private universities.

The U.S. News college rankings group schools based on categories created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and are frequently relied upon by students and parents considering higher education opportunities. This is the 20th time the Rock Hill campus has received a mention in the prestigious newsmagazine, whose rankings include more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools nationwide.

U.S. News uses a set of up to 16 indicators of excellence, including peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, and alumni giving.

The 2012 edition of Best Colleges book will be on newsstands on Sept. 20.

Winthrop President Anthony DiGiorgio said that "while each third-party accolade is appreciated, what is most important is the solid record that Winthrop has built over the years with a variety of such nationally recognized evaluations, all affirming the quality and value that Winthrop has worked so hard to achieve."

Winthrop is committed to delivering educational experiences that prepare students to work in diverse settings, think globally, participate in community service and become leaders in their professions and in their communities. The university’s motto, Live. Learn. Lead., conveys essential components of the Winthrop experience and expectations for students.

The university stands out in the region among public universities for its track record with U.S. News and its inclusion in the Princeton Review, which has rated Winthrop among its “Best Southeastern Colleges.” Winthrop was the only South Carolina institution cited in the recent “Beating the Odds” report in helping students, particularly minority students, most prone to dropping out of college stay on track toward graduation. In the “Beating the Odds” report developed with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Winthrop was singled out for its efforts to improve college completion rates and prepare students for successful careers.

For more information, contact the Office of the President at 803/323-2225.